A federal judge on Thursday denied Microsoft"s motion for a change of venue in its pending case against RealNetworks, which charged the software giant with anticompetitive business tactics.
U.S. District Court Judge James Ware rejected Microsoft"s arguments that a trial would take longer, inconvenience the company and force it to face a more hostile jury in San Jose, Calif., than in Seattle. "The court finds that a transfer would not serve (the interests of convenience or justice) any more than having the case proceed here," Ware wrote. Streaming media provider RealNetworks filed a civil suit against Microsoft in December, seeking more than $1 billion in damages from the company on charges that it illegally used its Windows monopoly to hurt digital media rivals.